Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a garage
Not an estimate. We read 2,461 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $15,925 and $35,000. One in ten came in under $9,700; one in ten ran past $64,000.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $25,000 | $15,925 – $35,000 | 2,461 |
| Seattle, WA | $51,271 | $25,000 – $158,941 | 316 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | $29,000 – $105,225 | 118 |
| Corona, CA | $46,000 | $23,750 – $80,059 | 56 |
| Raleigh, NC | $44,844 | $24,423 – $100,338 | 203 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35,000 | $15,000 – $62,000 | 6,240 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $30,000 | $15,000 – $85,000 | 218 |
| Detroit, MI | $28,180 | $15,000 – $150,000 | 251 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,866 | $8,000 – $43,367 | 33 |
| New York, NY | $26,500 | $10,000 – $72,436 | 2,336 |
| New Orleans, LA | $24,000 | $10,700 – $58,700 | 117 |
| Marin County, CA | $23,870 | $10,000 – $89,000 | 110 |
| Everett, WA | $20,500 | $10,000 – $60,000 | 211 |
| San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 751 |
| Sacramento, CA | $20,000 | $8,322 – $50,000 | 136 |
| Anaheim, CA | $10,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | 68 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $10,000 in Anaheim to $51,271 in Seattle — a 5.1× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in Chicago
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | $19,535 | 3,655 |
| Roof Replacement | $22,940 | 1,962 |
| Interior Remodel | $100,000 | 1,239 |
| Home Addition | $150,000 | 1,168 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $25,000 | 1,046 |
| Deck or Patio | $28,000 | 991 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $5,000 | 624 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $24,000 | 590 |
| HVAC Replacement | $20,000 | 488 |
| Water Heater | $6,048 | 309 |
| Siding or Stucco | $19,150 | 58 |
| Window Replacement | $20,000 | 57 |
| ADU / Guest House | $94,100 | 53 |
| Foundation Repair | $52,850 | 47 |
| Swimming Pool | $100,000 | 31 |
Source
Source: City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Building Permits. Permits issued in the last 24 months, classified by the work described on the permit. The figure is the declared value of the work — what the applicant reported to the city. It excludes work done without a permit and can sit below a final invoice. Read the full methodology. Data refreshed 2026-09-24.